Page 17 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

‘Of course it’s a burden.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘It might be a miracle and if the mothers I know are to be believed, it could be the most wonderful thing in my life. But nothing is that straightforward. I have plans...hadplans...and they don’t include a child.’ She spread her hands. ‘I still need to think that through.’

‘What sort of plans?’ A man? Was that what she meant?

‘To study. I’ve dreamed for so long about going to university and I won a place too. But I already had to defer my studies once to help my family.’ She looked down at her hands, now pleating the edge of her pullover. ‘It’s important to me to better myself. It’s what kept me going through...things. But how can I study and support myself and look after a child too? I’ll be giving birth around the time the academic year starts.’

Her words reminded him how little he knew of Aurélie. Of her upbringing, her dreams and how it was that she’d spent time looking after young children.

‘What about family support?’

Her mouth twisted. ‘I’m on my own.’

No mistaking the finality of her tone.

‘Then you came here so I can support you.’

Her head rocked back. ‘I came here because I respected your need to know. I was acting responsibly. But now you mention it, would it be so wrong to expect my child’s father to help out in caring for it?’

Lucien thought of all the press coverage there’d been of his engagement and approaching wedding. He thought of the huge disparity between his wealth, even before he’d inherited the throne, and a waitress’s wages. Of her tiny apartment tucked in the eaves of an old building and his luxurious lifestyle.

Of course she’d come to him.

‘So,’ he murmured, ‘after coming all this way, I assume you have a figure in mind?’

CHAPTER FIVE

AURÉLIEBENTATthe waist, hunching protectively as Lucien’s words hit. They were bites against soft flesh, a tearing ache through her middle.

Her eyes snapped wide open and she saw her shock reflected back on his face, as if he too were taken aback by what he’d said.

He’d accused her of putting a price on her baby’s head, coming to extort payment.

‘Aurélie, that didn’t come out right.’

She stumbled to her feet, ignoring his words. They seemed to come from a long distance, indistinguishable over the roaring blood in her ears.

Her lips twisted as the sour tang of disillusionment filled her mouth.

She’d thought better of Lucien. She’d imagined...

That was the problem. She’d imagined too much. He was simply a man who’d had no-strings-attached sex with her. Everything she thought she knew about him was suspect.

All she knew for sure was what he did and said. Today that wasn’t edifying.

Aurélie swung round and wrenched open the door to the passage she’d followed from the palace.

An arm shot out in front of her, blocking her way.

She stared at the hand anchored on the doorjamb and remembered those long fingers caressing her, making her body thrum in pleasure.

Frantically she dragged in a deep breath, only to find it scented with something that reminded her of mountain forests and the sultry heat of sex.

‘Wait, Aurélie. We need to talk.’

She surveyed the fine suit fabric of his sleeve in a designer shade of charcoal. The pristine white cuff, secured with a heavy cufflink. The watch that must have cost more than she’d earn as a waitress in a decade.

Everything reinforced the yawning gap between them. They were no longer equals. No matter what she did or said, Lucien would believe she wanted his money.

She should stay and negotiate a settlement because the baby would need it, given her meagre savings. But the voice of logic was drowned by pain.

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